14,000-year-old cave footprints provide snapshot of Stone Age family day out

[yellowdogintexas]

4. The indigenous people of Kentucky mined epsom and gypsum salts from Mammoth Cave

There are traces of their exploration fairly deep into the system; they carried reed torches which they swiped along the wall to knock off the ashes; this would have helped them find their way out. A mummy was found quite deep in the cave, and was on display for years in the park visitor's center. Back in the 1970s "Lost John" was moved to a location deep in the cave. I suspect only a very few people know exactly where he is now.

Other evidence of the use of the cave(s) by the natives are kaprolite (AKA 10,000 year old poop), footprints and so forth. This evidence is found in several sections of the cave system.

The same minerals the indigenous people mined were used to make gunpowder during the War of 1812. Remnants of the mining are on display in the cave.